Oscar Piastri is convinced that McLaren made the right call when they asked his teammate, Lando Norris, to let him pass in the Hungarian Grand Prix. This decision, although controversial, ensured Piastri’s victory and led to a spectacular 1-2 finish for the team.
The drama began in the final stint of the race. Piastri led the opening two stints, but Norris got the advantage during the final pit stop and took the lead. Despite Norris pulling ahead, McLaren repeatedly instructed him to let Piastri pass. The situation grew tense as Norris questioned the orders, especially since he was extending his lead over Piastri.
The climax came at the start of lap 68 when Norris finally complied and let Piastri through. Piastri acknowledged the complexity of the situation over the team radio, stating that the longer the swap took, the tougher it would get. After the race, Piastri said, ‘The longer you leave it, of course, the more you get a bit nervous. But it was well executed by the team. And yeah, I think it was the right thing.’
Norris, clearly disappointed, kept his comments brief: ‘The team asked me to do it, so I did it. And that’s it.’ Despite the tension, the team orders didn’t overshadow McLaren’s dominant performance. Both drivers praised the car’s performance, with Piastri calling it ‘a beast’ and ‘fast in every condition.’
Piastri’s win marked McLaren’s first 1-2 finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. Piastri shared his excitement, saying, ‘I don’t know when our last 1-2 was, but I think it’s a long time ago. So incredibly happy for the whole team, and nice to get my first win on the board.’ Norris echoed the sentiment, appreciating the team’s achievement and Piastri’s performance. ‘An amazing day for us as a team. I think that’s the main thing. Honestly, I’m so happy,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long journey to get to achieving this on merit, and that’s exactly what we did today.’
The team orders may have stirred up some controversy, but McLaren’s performance and Piastri’s win highlight a successful strategy and a strong team dynamic. As Piastri and Norris celebrate their 1-2 victory, McLaren fans can look forward to more thrilling races and impressive performances from their team.
